Mozilla cryptocurrency donations are on pause as it reviews its policy and ‘climate goals’

Mozilla announced its decision on Thursday to pause its acceptance of donations in cryptocurrencies after facing backlash from users and even its co-founder. The not-for-profit organization said it will review its policies on crypto donations, along with its "climate goals."

In a Twitter thread published on Thursday, Mozilla recalled its earlier post about accepting crypto donations and said it "led to an important discussion" on the impacts of crypto to the environment amid pressing climate issues. "So, starting today we are reviewing if and how our current policy on crypto donations fits with our climate goals," Mozilla wrote. "And as we conduct our review, we will pause the ability to donate cryptocurrency."

On the last day of 2021, Mozilla posted a tweet reminding its followers that they can send donations in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Ethereum through BitPay. Mozilla then became one of the companies and organizations that recently faced backlash for promoting features and services that use blockchain technology.

Critics have been calling out crypto mining and activities that encourage it due to its environmental impacts. A study published in 2021 found that the energy consumption of Bitcoin mining in China alone could peak in 2024 at 296.59 terawatt-hours, which would produce 130.50 million metric tons of carbon emission. Fortune also reported last year that a single Ethereum transaction generates the same carbon footprint as watching YouTube for 10,595 hours.

What was slightly different in Mozilla's case was that some of the more prominent responses it received were from people affiliated with the organization. Jamie "jwz" Zawinski, the co-founder of the Mozilla Project, was one of the people who replied to the organization's original post, saying, "Everyone involved in the project should be witheringly ashamed of this decision to partner with planet-incinerating Ponzi grifters."

April King, the creator of Mozilla Observatory, also responded to the organization's New Year's Eve post to express disappointment on its use of crypto donations. Other Twitter users have also reminded Mozilla of its climate commitments announced in early 2021, including its promise that it is "firmly committed to being carbon-neutral."

However, Mozilla also implied that its latest announcement unlikely signals the end of using crypto on its services and products. The tech organization noted that decentralized web technology will still be "an important area for us to explore." But whether its plans would still involve crypto or other blockchain technology in the future is still unclear.

Photo by Art Rachen on Unsplash